Swimming and life saving apparatus



M 2, 1935. R. P. F. FERBER 2, 6,915

SWIMMING AND LIFE SAVING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ['7' :1 F/g.-a

ATT R -mi Q July 2, 1935. R FERBER 2,006,915

SWIMMING AND LIFE SAVING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/VVENTo/K MEI Ffiiw Y /d'1lDev/im ATTORNEY;

Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES SWIMMING AND LIFE SAVING APPARATUS Robert Paul 'Frdric Ferber, Paris France Application Jan'uaryB, 1934, Serial Navosneo 1 P In France January 10, 1933 14 Claims;

Apparatusfor facilitating the propulsion of the human body in water is known. Apart from complicated apparatus comprising a member for sustaining the body on the water and a propulsion mechanism which allows the action of the arms and legs to be transmitted to surfaces applied on to the water, more simple devices are known but such devices do not produce any eifect to assist the swimmer in floating.

These apparatus are fixed to the feet and the hands or only to the feet or to the hands in such a manner as to increase the area of action of the feet or the hands in the water. Whatever be the nature of movement given to these apparatus, they are .far from satisfactory.

' The present invention has for its object a swimming apparatus which gives a new solution to the problem by the application of oscillatory sinuous movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the body of the'swimmer i. e. a movement similar to that imparted to the tail of a fish. By the term oscillatory sinuous movement is meant a movement of the arms, starting from a position in which the members are separated from each other and lie in planes parallel to the axis of the swimmers body to bring said members towards each other and hence close to the body and at the same time impart to" the members a partial rotary movement around I the axis of the forearm so that lines continued forward through the leading edges of the members form a closed angle in the direction of propulsion of the body. The members arethen moved away from each other-while. remaining in a substantially vertical position in the water--by pushing the forearms away from each other, which'movement may be accompanied by. a rotary movement of the arm around the shoulder so .as to give to the movement the desired amplitude. At the same time the members are again given a partial rotary movement around the axis of the forearm in the reverse sense, so that they now form an open angle in the direction, of; the propulsion and arethen returnedto their initial position.

As a; result of the alternating movements in question, pushing the members away from each other and bringing the same near to each other,- together with rotary movements first in one direction-andthen in the reverse direction, and with j the movement of the propulsion dueto the action of the apparatus on the waterthe said members of the apparatus describe in the water a sinusoidal curve.

The above described positions-correspond substantially to the position of'the members during their action. Actually'when the arms are furthest from the body, the forearms are not exactly in a vertical position as the'handscan be brought further away than the elbows from the vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the swimmers body. 7 7

The complete apparatus'comprises a pair of streamlined members each having a large surface adapted for use in the water in a mean vertical position as described above when the swimmer is lying horizontally in the water, each streamlined member having two working surfaces spaced apart sufficiently to e'nclosetherebetween the hand or forearm of the swimmer and beingprovided with means for attachmentpreferably by gripping to the hand of a swimmer in such a manner as preferably to leave behind theforearm a greater surface of themember than that in front of. the forearm.

The swimmer imparts to the members oscil-- latory sinuous movements by displacing his arms in a plane substantially perpendicular to and symmetric about the axis ofhis body.

On each dis'placenient'the members strike the water obliquely in such a manner as to produce a longitudinal propulsive component by acting in the manner of the tail of a fish. At the-end of. each stroke the members pivot slightly by a rotary movement of. the forearms so that they are brought into correct position for the next" movement, 1. e. with the front edge-of the mempropulsion along the axis of the body of the swimmer with easeand without great effort Due to the stream-liningof the members, fric-' tion and eddies in the water'will be diminished, and the efiiciency of the device will be thus increased. r I

The means of attaching the stream-lined member tozthe-forearm are of: any convenient type which ensure a positive and fixed joint and permit the necessary movements. They will preferably be shaped so as to' diminish the friction in the water as muchas possible."

According to, the invention, each memberfis preferably provided with a substantially vertical cavity into which the forearm may be passedj t he cavity having adjacentits lower end a cross pieceor handle which may be gripped" by the hand whereby the member is attached to theswi'mmerr This method of connecting thei'member vto the forearm is very simple and easy .to use without fatiguertq l i The member may'berigid or flexible or partly rigid or partly flexible e. g. the rear part may be flexible and the front part rigid, simulating the tail of a fish, and its front elevation may be of various cross section, geometrical or of a fancy shape (for example, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, curved or fish-shaped, etc.).

The edges of the cavity adapted to receive the forearm-when this method of connection is used-are preferably rounded so as not to present a cutting edge.

The depth of the member may be varied but it is preferably such that it reaches up to the elbow when the hand is gripping the handle. The member may be extended as desired above the elbow and below the handle so long as the effort needed to move the device through the water is not in excess of the strength of the swimmer.

Moreover, the device is preferably so constructed that its degree of buoyancy is eitherslight, so as to assist in keeping the body of the swimmer on the surface of the water, or large so as to constitute a life saving device, in which case the usermerely folds his arms across his chest and lies upon the water.

The member may be constructed of wood cork or of otherrnaterial which is lighter than water, or may comprise a hollow body of any desired nature whose volume after immersion displaces a weight of water greater than its own weight.

The buoyancy of thedevice may be varied by providing within each member one or more cavities l0 communicating with the outside of the device, which cavities may be hermetically sealed. Ballast may thus be introduced by allowing water into the cavities and then hermetically drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of .the first form of construction of the member; Figure 2 a side elevation partly in section, and Figure 3 an end view; Figure 4 illustrates a side view of a swimmer having membersv constructed in accordance with Figures 1, 2 and 3; Figure 5 is an end view of this swimmer and Figure 6 a plan view thereof; Figure '7 is a plan view and Figure 8 a front view of the swimmer with the members in an outstretched positon Figure 9 is a plan view and- Figure 10 a front view of the swimmer with the members drawn in together; Figure 11 is a plan view of the modification.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, each member comprises a flat stream-line member I having in plan a symmetricalprofile, that is to say, it comprises a front portion 2 having a front edge 3, more or less pointed, this part 2 widening out as shown at 3 and being extended by apart 4 which tapers towards the back and terminates in a sharp edge 5.

Toward the frontof the member is provided a hole 6 large enough to receive a swimmers forearm. Toward the bottom of this hole is provided; a handle or cross piece 1 adapted to. be grippedcby the hand. The top of the hole 6 is. rounded off as shown at 8. 1

Referringto Figures4 to 10, the swimmer} pushes his arm into the hole 6 of the member and grips the handle 1., Theprovision of this handle enables the swimmer to make the oscillatory sinuous movements. These Figures 4 to 10 illustrate the swimmer having a member on each arm first in the initial position as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 pushing out the members as in Figures 7 and 8, and then drawing them in again as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

In the modified form shown in Figure 11, the streamlined member, instead of having a symmetrical profile, is given a profile similar to the wing of an aeroplane, which has a very slight resistance to the water and thus increases the propulsive efficiency of the device. If the member is given sufficient uplift it is possible to keep the head and shoulders of the swimmer above water without any effort on his part.

I claim:

1. A swimming device adapted also for use as a life-saving means and comprising a pair of plates having a large surface, each plate being provided with a cavity and adapted to receive the arm of the swimmer and a cross piece provided adjacent the lower end of said cavity and serving as a handle for the hand of the swimmer so that the latter may impart to the plates oscillatory movements and alternating movements by displacing his arms in planes substantially perpendicular to and symmetric about the axis of his body.

2. A swimming device adapted also for use as a life-saving means and comprising a pair of plates having a large surface, each plate having a cav ity therein nearer to the front edge than to the back edge thereof and adapted to receive the arm of the swimmer and a cross piece provided adjacent the lower end of said cavity and serving as a handle for the hand of a swimmer so that the latter may impart to the plates oscillatory movements and alternating movements by displacing his arms in planes substantially perpendicular to and symmetric about the axis of his body.

3. A swimming device adapted also for use as a life-saving means comprising a pair of streamlined members each having a large area and having two working surfaces spaced apart sufficiently to enclose therebetween the hand or forearm of the swimmer and being provided with means for attachment to the hand of the swimmer in such manner that the latter may impart to the streamlined members oscillatory sinuous movements by displacing the swimmers arms in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis of his body.

4. A swimming device adapted also for use as a life-saving means comprising a pair of rigid streamlined members each having a large area and having two working surfaces spaced apart suiiiciently to enclose therebetween the hand or forearm of the swimmer and being provided with means for attachment to the hand of the swimmer in such manner that the swimmer may impart to the streamlined members oscillatory sinuous movements by displacing his arms in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis of his body.

5. A swimming device adapted also for use as a life-saving means comprising a pair of flexible streamlined members each having a large area and having two working surfaces spaced apart sufiiciently to enclose therebetween the hand or forearm of the swimmer and being provided with means for attachment to the hand of the swimmer in such manner that the latter may impart to the streamlined members oscillatory sinuous movements by displacing his arms in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis of his body.

6.. A. swimming device adapted also for use as a.

life-saving means comprising a pair of partly rigid and partly flexible streamlined members each having a large area and having two working surfaces spacedapart sufliciently to enclose therebetween the hand or forearm of the swimmer and being provided with means for attachment to the hand of the swimmer in such manner that the latter may impart to the streamlined members oscillatory sinuous movements by displacing his arms in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis of his body.

7. A swimming device adapted also for use as a life-saving means comprising a pair of streamlined members each having a large area and having two working surfaces spaced apart sufficiently to enclose therebetween the hand or forearm of the swimmer and being provided with attaching means secured to the member nearer to the front edge thereof than to the back edge thereof and being arranged for attachment to the hand of the swimmer in such manner that the latter may impart to the streamlined members oscillatory sinuous movements by displacing his arms in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis of his body.

8. A swimming device adapted also for use as a life-saving means comprising a pair of streamlined members each having a large area and having two working surfaces spaced apart sufficiently to enclose therebetween the hand or forearm of the swimmer and being provided with means for attaching the member to the forearm of the swimmer, said means comprising a cross piece adapted to be gripped by the hand of the swimmer, said cross piece being located within a cavity formed between the two working surfaces of the member.

9. A swimming device adapted also for use as a life-saving means comprising a pair of streamlined members each having a large area and having two working surfaces spaced apart sufficiently to enclose therebetween the hand or fore arm of the swimmer and being provided with means for attaching the member to the forearm of the swimmer, said means comprising a handle adapted to be gripped by the hand of the swimmer, said handle being located within a cavity formed between the two working surfaces of the member.

10. A swimming device which comprises streamlined members each having a large area and having two working surfaces spaced apart sufficiently to enclose therebetween the hand or forearm of the swimmer, said members being provided with means for attachment to the hand of the swimmer in such manner that the latter may impart to the streamlined members oscillatory sinuous movements by displacing his arms in planes substantially pendpendicular to the axis of his body and with means whereby the buoyancy of the members may be regulated so that the device may be employed as a life-saving means.

11. A swimming device adapted also for use as a life-saving means comprising a pair of streamlined members eachhaving a large area and having two working surfaces spaced apart sufficiently to enclose therebetween the hand or forearm of the swimmer, said members being constructed of a material lighter than water and being provided with means for attachment to the hand of the swimmer in such manner that the latter may impart to the streamlined members oscillatory sinuous movements by displacing his arms in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis of his body.

12. A swimming device which comprises streamlined members each having a large area and having two Working surfaces spaced apart suificiently to enclose therebetween the hand or forearm of the swimmer, said members being provided with means for, attachment to the hand of the swimmer in such manner that the latter may impart to the streamlined members oscillatory sinuous movements by displacing his arms in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis of his body, each member comprising a body whose volume after immersion displaces a Weight of water greater than its own.

13. A swimming device which comprises streamlined members each having a large area and having two working surfaces spaced apart sufficiently to enclose therebetween the hand or forearm of the swimmer, said members being provided with means for attachment to the hand of the swimmer such manner that the latter may impart to the streamlined members oscillatory sinuous movements by displacing his arms in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis of his body, each member comprising a hollow portion provided with an opening to allow the introduction therein of ballast such as water whereby the buoyancy of the device may be adjusted and permit it to be employed as a life-saving means.

14. A swimming device adapted also for use as a life-saving means comprising streamlined members each having a large area and having two working surfaces spaced apart sufliciently to enclose therebetween the hand or forearm of the swimmer, the outline of the side-elevation of each member being trapezoidal.

ROBERT PAUL FRE'DE'RIC FERBER. 

